Nestled in the Virginia countryside under the watchful eye of the Blue Ridge Mountains, TheInn at Little Washington endures as one of America’s finest restaurants. For nearly four decades, gourmands from around the globe have been making pilgrimages to the charming epicurean escape, which recently earned two Michelin stars and has five James Beard Awards on its mantle, along with numerous other accolades.

Chef-owner Patrick O’Connell enchants every sense with impeccably executed, French- accented haute cuisine presented with dashes of mischief and whimsy. Eating at the Inn isn’t just about enjoying a meal – it’s a once in a lifetime tour de force never to be forgotten. But what is the story behind the experience? To pull back the curtain and see how the wizardry works, I spoke with O’Connell, along with Bob Fasce, who is now The Inn’s director of development, and table captain Michael O’Heir.

Patrick O’Connell: My first job was in a restaurant. It was love at first sight. I loved the fact you didn’t have to be normal. It fact, it helped if you weren’t. It was a subculture. Like theater people, restaurant people marched to their own beat. They don’t do anything the way regular people do, who have weekends off to wash the car and mow the grass and all those boring things. My father worked for the government his entire life. It seemed to me – as a child, from afar – that it was numbingly boring. That wasn’t the life I hoped for.

When I was 20, I went to Europe with a EuroRail pass and traveled for a year. As soon as I got there, I realized that cooking was an art form and, if approached from that perspective, it could satisfy all my inner needs. When I returned, I bought a large farm on the line between Madison and Rappahannock counties and opened a catering business.

Ultimately, I bought a garage in Little Washington, which had a basket store on one side. It had been a candidate for demolition, but no one had the money to tear it down. We opened The Inn at Little Washington on January 28, 1978, and served 70 people the opening night.

Originally it was so primitive. I would cook and serve. We had 50 seats and there was no liquor license because the county was dry. But the Washington newspapers picked up on the novelty and bizarreness of a place of this caliber in the middle of nowhere.

After the first year in business, we shut down the restaurant for the month of January to take the staff to Europe. It was the best thing we ever did. It was to measure ourselves against the best. That’s what I always tell young people. It doesn’t matter what you want to do. If you want to open a sandwich shop and sell Reubens, find out who has the best Reuben in the whole world, measure what you’re doing against that, and aim for that. Don’t aim for simply the best in your town.

Bob Fasce: I started at the beginning of 1990. I had graduated from the CIA and was looking for a job. My friend was trying out to work at the Inn and I knew I was as good as him, so I threw my name in that hat. The night before my job interview, I sat on the steps of the post office across the street, just staring at the Inn, thinking, ‘I can’t believe that I am freaking here.’ I remember the kitchen was busy and professional. I’d never seen food go out as meticulously and as consistently. It was everything I thought a high-end restaurant should be. The test went well and then Patrick asked, ‘How much do I need to pay you?’ I said, ‘Nothing.’ He started laughing. He ultimately paid me around seven bucks an hour – near nothing. I got my wish.

Michael O’Heir: My story begins twenty-four years ago with my father, Neil, who applied for a job at the Inn after he had just married my mother. I’m the oldest of his five sons. As of this past Christmas Day, all five of us have worked here. When I was 18-years-old, my father invited me to work at the Inn. There’s not a title for what I was doing; I was in the back polishing glasses. The first day was imposing. There’s a lot of information being thrown at you. You’re expected to learn quickly, but everyone is helpful.

In Washington, D.C., lunch is not simply a time to dine out. It’s a chance for lawmakers, lobbyists, and politically engaged celebrities to come together to talk over the most pressing issues of the day and make history-changing deals. Make a reservation at one of these six D.C. power lunch restaurants to spot powerbrokers in our nation’s capital.

Charlie Palmer SteakSpotted There: Harry Reid
Just steps away from the Capitol Building – which means guests have an unparalleled view of the iconic structure if they request a rooftop tour – it’s a go-to for politicos, which helped it earn the nickname “Congress’ Dining Room.” Though there’s a bevy of beef, this is not your average D.C. steakhouse. Executive chef Mike Ellis has fun with the favorites. Caesar salad is built as a tower topped with crunchy parmesan tuile, draped anchovies, and coronated with hard-boiled quail eggs. A crab cake sandwich gets an expected lift from fennel, and a side of featherweight gnocchi is lavished with black truffles and an abundance of pecorino. For dessert, it’s hard to go wrong with the Reese’s-minded peanut butter terrine from pastry chef Justin Roche. Complement your meal with an excellent selection of exclusively American wines, curated by wine director Nadine Brown. Make a reservation at Charlie Palmer Steak.

Bistro BisSpotted There: Paul Ryan
Making its home in the Kimpton George Hotel, Bistro Bis is a short walk from the Senate. That makes it a go-to for senators, their support staff, and those looking to bend their ears. Chef-owner Jeff Buben focuses on classic bistro fare, so the menu overflows with familiar French favorites. To start, there’s onion soup with a gooey golden cap of Gruyere, steak tartare with a quail egg, and frisée salad topped with lardons, duck confit, and a soft poached egg. Main attractions include steak frites, an exceptionally executed Niçoise salad, and trout l’Ardenaise sautéed in parsley accented brown butter, capers, and lemon. Of course, you can always simply order a burger, which arrives with a bird’s nest of confit onions, a blanket of melted Comté, and rashers of applewood smoked bacon. No matter what you choose, c’est bon! Make a reservation at Bistro Bis.

The MonocleSpotted There: John Kasich
Located next to the Senate Office Building complex and the Supreme Court, this timeworn favorite has been serving the Capitol crowd since 1960. Long loved by both sides of the aisle, it boasts it was the “first table cloth restaurant” in the neighborhood. Many things about it haven’t changed in the last half-century – its look, the formality of the service, or the food, so expect to feel like you’re dining in a time capsule. Straightforward American fare fills the menu, such as an ample steak salad dotted with plenty of blue cheese, crab cakes with a slightly sweet red pepper sauce, and a hefty burger topped with mozzarella, peppers, onions, and chipotle mayonnaise. Make a reservation at the Monocle.

The Oval RoomSpotted There: Bill Clinton
Within a couple of blocks from the White House, it’s a favorite with movers, shakers, and out-of-towners alike. Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj’s downtown institution has hosted a pair of Presidents, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who once said it was her favorite restaurant. Executive chef John Melfi is at the top of his game, putting out plates that showcase ingenuity, creative combinations, and a reverence for top-shelf seasonal ingredients. Crisped up pork belly arrives with a savory peanut puree and barbecued chicharrones, while shrimp sit on a bed of coconut-y grits accented with sautéed spinach and charred onions. For dessert, the chilled Meyer lemon soufflé with perky blueberry compote that recalls warmer months and cardamom shortbread is a no brainer. Make a reservation at the Oval Room.

Jogging, shmogging. Make it your resolution to party like a rock star in the new year. At least once, get ushered around town in a stretch Hummer, knock back magnums of Dom Pérignon with your friends, and wear enough bling so that your selfies are just a blizzard of glittering lights reflecting off your jewels. Such a baller evening wouldn’t be complete without dining at a restaurant that epitomizes the high life. We recommend reserving a table at one owned by a chart topper. Here are five musician-owned restaurants where you can party like a rock star and live like a celebrity any day of the week.

Jay Z’s 40/40 Club, New York, New York
Hova has 99 problems, but running a super swanky sports-themed nightclub isn’t one of them. The luxe lounge takes its name for a record only four MLB players – Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Alfonso Soriano – have ever achieved: hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases in a single season. As you would expect, the space is decorated with sports memorabilia galore, including signed jerseys you might be tempted to rip off the wall so you can hang them in your man cave at home. Don’t. Jigga would definitely not approve. The menu features bar food done right – from king crab sliders and spicy, skin-on fries to Southern fried shrimp and four cheese mac ‘n cheese. If you happen to be there at the same time as Jay and Bey, don’t interrupt them while they’re eating to ask for a picture with them to post on your Instagram. Wait until they’re enjoying a digestif, then bum rush them.

Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina, Las Vegas, Nevada
You’ve probably sung one of Hagar’s songs at the top your lungs with the windows cranked down and the accelerator kissing the floorboards. Maybe his signature solo hit, “I Can’t Drive 55” or one of his many smashes with Van Halen, such as “Why Can’t This Be Love,” “Poundcake,” and “Right Now.” His Mexi-minded cantina – which takes its moniker from a track on VH’s 1988 album OU812 – specializes in South of the Border favorites. Think queso fundido with chorizo, short rib burritos, carne asada tacos, and chipotle-spiced chicken fajitas. Oh, yeah, and there’s a lot of tequila to be had, including Sammy’s own brand. Have a few glasses of Cabo Wabo tequila and you may be, um, inspired to belt out a tune in between courses. Just don’t make the amateur mistake of singing a Van Halen song David Lee Roth originally sang. So. Not. Cool.

If you believe Us Weekly, celebrities are just like us. We won’t debate the veracity of that claim (they always seem to look preternaturally pulled together even when they come out of the Jivamukti studio), but we will say that, like us, they love to eat! In celebration of the release of the 2015 100 Best Restaurants for Foodies awards, here are nine foodie celebrities to follow on Instagram to inspire your eating and drinking adventures.

Chrissy Teigen
A list about celebrity Instagrammers who love to eat would not be complete without model Chrissy Teigen. Married to singer John Legend, the New York City-based stunner has the most delicious IG feed of all. She chows down on fish tacos from Michael Chernow, dines decadently with friends at Meso Maya in Dallas, and snacks on cooling ice cream cones – all while maintaining a super-healthy physique.

Action Bronson
Rapper Action Bronson is closely associated with a catchphrase that’s unprintable here, but, if his Instagram feed is any indication, he utters it several times a day. He sinks his teeth into Ivan Shishkin’s French toast-ified pastrami on rye, sups at Marea on charred octopus, and gushes over the cous cous in Morocco as he travels the world entertaining his many fans. ICYMI, he’ll also autograph pizza crust for said fans. Also, Action, if you’re reading this, if you ever find yourself performing near Newburyport, Massachusetts, dine at BRINE.

Gwyneth Paltrow
The driving force behind kale smoothies and good-for-you food, Gwynnie has her fair share of lovers and haters, but, whatever your feelings, you’ve got to give her props for her longtime celebration of fresh food + drink. whether she’s hobnobbing with fellow celebs or cooking with her kids. She’s got snaps of just-picked summer produce from her garden, mind-blowing ramen from Ichicoro in Tampa, and her National Oyster Day feast at The Marshall Store in Tomales Bay.

Questlove
If you’ve been to a high-profile foodie event, chances are you’ve caught sight of Questlove. A talented drummer and band leader who plays with The Roots nightly on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, he is an avid foodie who hosts food salons with marquee chefs on occasion. Questlove’s reputation as a gourmand who appreciates both the highbrow and the low was the inspiration for the new Quisp Love cereal milk from Christina Tosi of the Milk Bar. Don’t miss his pic of bacon soda sips.

Oprah
She was and always will be the queen of daytime TV, even tho’ she’s no longer in front of the camera every day. However, you can keep up with her healthful appetites on Instagram. She favors from-her-farm produce (which she kindly shares with her neighbors), adores the famous crab cakes from Pappas in Baltimore, and claims that Jimmy Kimmel is one helluva pizzaiolo.

Drew Barrymore
Actress-producer-entrepreneur-momma Drew Barrymore will always be associated with food in our mind (Hello, Reese’s Pieces!). She’s got a sweet tooth and a taste for rose. In her latest holiday in Japan, Barrymore hit up robatayaki in Tokyo and made her dreams of sushi with Jiro a reality. She has also been known to chill out with mint chip ice cream on a hot summer day.

Zac Posen
You can’t design a more delicious diet than designer Zac Posen’s. Sure, you might expect beautiful pictures of fashionable plates of food from a fashionista. However, Posen also makes many of the dishes featured on his Instagram stream. A master of both sweet and savory creations, Posen, pictured here at Bemelmans Bar in New York, scores extra points for canning his own preserves. Where he finds the time, we’re not quite sure.Continue Reading

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Caroline Potter

Caroline Potter is the Chief Dining Officer for OpenTable, Inc. She’s a dining trend-spotter and an OpenTable VIP, who dines out more than she eats in and has accrued more than 10,000 Dining Rewards points. Caroline started working in restaurants as a teen and she's since tackled every front-of-the-house job, from bartender and hostess to runner and server. She trained as a chef at Manhattan’s prestigious French Culinary Institute, cooking at L’Ecole. In addition to her role at OpenTable, she has written about food from farm to table for New York City’s famed Greenmarket and Edible Brooklyn and Edible East End magazines. Caroline is also a Certified Master Gardener.